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RAK Govt Hospitals 'Lack' Modern Medical Facilities

RAS AL KHAIMAH -- Members of the Federal National Council's (FNC) committee on health, labour and social affairs have expressed dissatisfaction about the poor condition and the insufficient medical facilities in Ras Al Khaimah hospitals including Saqr Hospital, the biggest government hospital in 
the emirate.

During their visits to the various hospitals in Ras Al Khaimah on Sunday, Dr Sultan Al Mouzzen, the committee chairman said, the infrastructures of some hospitals were in poor condition and their medical facilities do not meet the country's standards.

"Buildings of some of the hospitals including Saqr hospital -- the oldest and biggest hospital in Ras Al Khaimah have become old and need to be replaced with new ones. Although buildings at Saqr Hospital get frequent maintenance and repair, some parts of the 30-year-old hospital appear to be very old which is risky for both patients and the medical staff," he added.

"Hospitals in Ras Al Khaimah also lack modern medical facilities and equipments that would enable them improve the health services being provided to the patients," said Al Mouzzen.Medical staff at Saqr hospital said, they do not have sufficient blood storage facilities and the Emergency Section lacks modern and sophisticated equipment for handling accident cases.

The committee also established a general shortage of medical staff including doctors, nurses and technicians in many government hospitals that they have visited which sometimes result in hospitals providing substandard treatment.

"The hospitals are lacking staff which has resulted in the provision of substandard services. Some departments in certain hospitals have even closed due to the shortage of medical staffs. In some government hospitals, medical staff were unsatisfied by the low salaries compared to their compatriots in private hospitals in Dubai and Abu Dhabi," said Al Mouzzen. Some nurses also cited problems of lack of training courses and if any, the hospital managements deduct the training fees from the salaries. The official also pointed out that the committee discovered serious delays in the supply of medical equipment and other basic consumer products for both the patients and medical staff. Al Mouzzen stressed that there is an urgent need for the Ministry of Health to provide more financial support to the government hospitals in the northern emirates to build new infrastructures and improve the medical services.

"Most of the problems the hospitals face have been attributed to insufficient funds. Unless the government makes tremendous changes in the hospitals RAK and other northern Emirates, including raising salaries for the medical staff, the medical services cannot improve," he noted.

After visiting all the hospitals in the Northern Emirates, the committee on health, labour and social affairs will submit its findings to the Federal National Council's and to the ministries of health and finance.

Meanwhile the committee led by its chairman on Monday visited is His Highness Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah at the Al Dhait Palace and briefed him about the functions of the committee and the field visits currently undertaken by the committee to hospitals, social centres and other institutions to assess the quality of services delivered through the public 
institutions.

By Sebugwaawo Ismail

© Khaleej Times 2010